Southeast Asia's leading alternative music festival, Baybeats 24 – 26 Jun 2016, is your best bet to get your heart thumping while watching prominent Singapore and international acts. Renowned for its variety, the annual three-day festival showcases a large array of genres, from folk, pop, metal, post-rock, emo, punk, electro and everything in between. Located at Esplanade -Theatres on the Bay, the event is 100 percent free and non-ticketed.

The way the festival is able to be free-ticketed is that it serves as a platform for local bands to make a name for themselves. However, the event's focus on fostering home grown talent goes beyond music-making, as it also gathers the best of local talent in other creative fields such as music journalism, gig photography, video arts, among others.

For any local band who wants a shot in the music business, the Baybeats team is always on the lookout for good music bands and fresh sounds for “the next round of music mayhem”. Therefore, local bands can send them their material and they promise to go through every CD. Accordingly, this is a guarantee that the team will not rest until they have the best possible line-up for each festival.

With a festival village that brings together local indie crafters and entrepreneurs, the festival also celebrates the music-loving lifestyle.

The three main performing stages include the Baybeats Arena (Outdoor Theatre), Powerhouse Stage (The Edge) and the Chillout Stage (Concourse). There is also a series of magazine-style interview sessions at the Observation Deck (Library@Esplanade).

The performances are known for being an explosion of adrenaline for festival-goers. From home grown indie to the alternative music scene, the sounds are electric. In 2014, singer-songwriter Jaime Wong drove the audience into a state of ecstasy with his tender yet bluesy showcase of original tunes in a laidback unplugged set.

As well, psychedelic-rock quintet Spacedays at the Arena, or Outdoor Stage, rocked the festival with a multi-faceted, out-of-orbit set that was at times trippy, groovy and soulful. And a hardcore band Straight Forward played a heartrending setset at the Powerhouse stage .

The newcomers from the festival's Budding Bands programme also gave legendary performances. While post-rockers Sphaeras enchanted the audience with complex song structures, the pop-punkers Attention! The New Portsdown made the audience jump to the beat of their sassy tunes. More info at esplanade.com

Singaporeans have plenty of reasons to be proud: a beautiful island home to live in, a thriving multicultural community, a brilliant education system, good healthcare, booming economy – right now Singapore is a country that has it all. Many Singaporean's have felt the need to set their feelings of national pride to music over the years. In fact, given how small the nation is, it's pretty amazing how many patriotic songs have been written about it.

Here we look at some of the most famous odes to Singapore, including their most stirring, country-praising lyrics.

Song for Singapore – Corrine May

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Corrine May is one of Singapore's best loved musicians. In 2010, she showed that this loved was reciprocal, with the beautiful Song for Singapore.

I want to sing Sing a song for Singapore With every generation there's more to be grateful for So come and sing Sing a song for Singapore You're my brother, you're my sister I'm thankful for my Singapore My Singapore Singapore

There's No Place I'd Rather Be – Jimmy Ye

A Singaporean Chinese singer whose 1993 album Give Me Your Love was a huge success. One of the highlights is There's No Place I'd Rather Be, a tribute to his home country.

There's no place I'd rather be You'll always be a part of me And even though I've roamed the world It's still my home I long to see

What Do You See? – Electrico

Since first hitting the indie scene back in the mid-1990s, Electrico have been one of Singapore's leading rock bands. What Do You See? is their most patriotic song.

See the moon and the stars

Look how far we have come

Look around at our faces

They shine brightly in the sun

With our hopes and dreams

Imagine what tomorrow it may bring

What do you see? What do you see?

Semoga Bahagia – Zubir Said

Written in Malay by famed Indonesian composer Said, the title of this tune translates as ‘May You Find Happiness.'

Sama-sama maju ke hadapan (Together we progress) Pandai cari pelajaran (Clever at seeking knowledge) Jaga diri dalam kesihatan (Take care of your health) Serta sopan-santun dengan kawan-kawan (And be courteous to your friends)

Onward Singapore – Zubir Said

Where else to end the list then with the national anthem itself? Officially in Malay, the English lyrics are below:

Come fellow Singaporeans

Let us progress towards happiness together

May our noble aspiration bring

Singapore success

Come, let us unite In a new spirit

Let our voices soar as one

Onward Singapore

Onward Singapore

Come let us unite

In a new spirit

Let our voices soar as one

Onward Singapore

Onward Singapore

Neon Lights, a new major music & art destination festival, will blaze a trail across the region's festival circuit come this November. The first of its kind in Singapore, and taking its cues from the world's greatest music festivals, Neon Lights will illuminate the historic Fort Canning Park on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2015 with a rich and vibrant music and arts programme encompassing international and local music, dance, theatre, comedy, art & design installations, spoken word and children's workshops.

Built on an uncompromising philosophy of collaboration and community, the inaugural annual festival will run from 1pm till late each day, and will incorporate every nook and cranny of Fort Canning's three main outdoor event spaces – Fort Green, Fort Gate and OMSQ. Neon Lights promises a premium multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory experience for everyone, regardless of age or interest, set across six stages – Neon Lights Stage, Neon Gardens Stage, Club Minky, Cloud Factory, Lit Up @ Neon Lights and Easy Street.

The first 16 acts of a superbly eclectic music line-up are released today. Handpicked from over 10 countries across 5 continents; Neon Lights' headliners are the legendary hit-makers USA's CHIC feat Nile Rodgers – one of the most influential producers and prolific musicians in the history of popular music - and multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Ireland's Damien Rice who will play his first Singapore show in nearly a decade.

Brilliant cult mavericks USA's Mercury Rev make their long-awaited return to Singapore right off the release of their latest album and upbeat party acts Flight Facilities from Sydney and New Yorkers Ratatat will play their first-ever shows here.

Other acts making their first trips to Singapore include legendary UK shoegaze trailblazers Ride, the hypnotic Songhoy Blues from Mali, Mancunian world-fusion DJ Mr Scruff and the Asia premiere of Kiasmos – the groundbreaking new audiovisual electronic project from Iceland composer and pianist Olafur Arnalds; who needs no introduction to Singapore audiences – his last trip here in 2013 saw him sell out two nights at the Esplanade Theatre. Kiasmos' show will be preceded by Swedish techno demi-god Axel Willner aka The Field.

The Neon Lights and Neon Gardens stages will showcase a stellar music line-up spanning genres and decades, blending international stars with local heroes, including sensory rockers Hanging Up The Moon. Also on the Neon Lights bill so far are cool punk-meets-bossa-lounge act Nouvelle Vague from Paris, gifted Japanese multi-intstrumentalist Shugo Tokumaru, introspective indie folksters USA's Sun Kil Moon and Singapore's Bennett Bay, and the new queen of dream pop USA's Julia Holter. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Families with kids will be entertained by the interactive sideshow, circus, comedy and cabaret performances at Club Minky, followed by children's wearable art and movement workshops by MySuperFuture at Cloud Factory. For fans of the spoken and written word, Lit Up @ Neon will be a literary treat with performances, readings, panel discussions and interviews.

The holistic festival will feature three distinct performances each night at Cloud Factory by some of Singapore's most innovative sound, video and performance artists, all curated by Noor Effendy Ibrahim, former artistic director of The Substation and Teater Ekamatra. Also, attendees will get to participate in a live street art and culture celebration on Easy Street curated by Recognize Studios and Sideshow, alongside the breakbeats of hip-hop artists and scratch DJs.

“All our favourite outdoor music festivals from around the world have great arts, great food and a real sense of family as integral to their offering. While Neon Lights is first and foremost a music- lovers festival, it's also for people who are looking for something more – performance, workshops, installations, comedy, delicious food and other surprises, all combining to make one of the most nourishing, uplifting weekends of the year. That's the aspiration.” Jennifer Jennings, Producer & Arts Programme Director.

Neon Lights is organised by a team of international award-winning festival experts, including co- founders of Electric Picnic (IRE), Clockenflap (HK) and Harvest Festival (AUS), in collaboration with the experienced and dynamic Singapore team.

Early Bird & Family Weekend Tickets on sale from 9am, Tuesday, 8th September at www.neonlights.sg, www.sistic.com.sg, SISTIC ticketing hotline +65 6348 5555, and www.EventCliQue.com. Limited supply of early bird tickets available and Under 18s conditions of purchase apply. Single day & group tickets on sale soon.

Bliss-Out 2015 set to thrill Singapore with first-of-its-kind combination of yoga and music in one magical night BE prepared for a truly memorable out-of-this-world experience this festive season, as Singapore's largest Yoga and Music Festival, Bliss-Out 2015, looks set to wow the Lion City with its first-of-a-kind combination in one spectacular evening. The unique event will be held on 12 December 2015 at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay from 5:00pm – 10:30pm.

Bliss-Out brings together the best of two worlds, as music and yoga combine to feed your body, spirit, and musical soul. The event will begin with yoga practices led by renowned local teachers, Lynn Yeo & Sumei Shum, and Los Angeles based internationally celebrated teacher Sianna Sherman, featured by Yoga Journal as one of the 21 top talented young teachers. These sessions will cater to practitioners of all levels. The evening will then thrill fans of indie music, with Kiwi electronic band, The Naked and Famous, enthrall fans with songs from their latest album - In Rolling Waves. The Auckland-based band will be performing some of their hottest singles, including Young Blood, Punching In A Dream, and Hearts Like Ours, providing a combination of darkly nuanced, intricately rocking electro beats for the crowd.

Joining them on stage will be homegrown singer-songwriter Inch Chua as she looks set to rock the stage with her harmonious blend of indie-rock melodies. The 26-year-old has gained attention from music critics ever since she released her debut solo in 2009 – The Bedroom, which paved way for her to be invited to the SXSW Music Festival in 2010, the first Singapore singer-song writer to have done so.

Mr Adrian Mok, Managing Director of HiVelocity Events, the owner and organiser of Bliss-Out 2015, said: “The combination of yoga and music serves as a great way for yoga enthusiasts and music lovers to come together and enjoy a night of fun-filled programmes which we've lined up for them. We want to reach out to Singaporeans who wish to experience both aspects all in one night.”

Music fans and yoga lovers can opt for the “Yoga & Concert” package, which will entitle them to both yoga sessions. Lynn & Sumei will teach an all levels (including beginners) class, which will feature an uplifting and challenging practice with a potpourri of yoga poses. Sianna will teach a more intermediate level session, ‘Fire & Nectar – Tantra Vinyasa', with a dynamic flow of poses, more suitable for regular yoga practitioners. Both sessions will be accompanied by music specially curated by local musician and DJ Amanda Ling.

10% promo code for [newDomain] readers. The Code is “BLISSOUT10DISSGMG”, more info on blissout.com.sg